Hacıbektaş is a town and district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is the seat of Hacıbektaş District.[2] Its population is 5,325 (2022).[1] Located in Cappadocia, its elevation is 1,275 m (4,183 ft). The town is named after Haji Bektash Veli, a 13th-century Sufi saint who founded the Bektashi Order.

Hacıbektaş
Hacıbektaş is located in Turkey
Hacıbektaş
Hacıbektaş
Location in Turkey
Hacıbektaş is located in Turkey Central Anatolia
Hacıbektaş
Hacıbektaş
Hacıbektaş (Turkey Central Anatolia)
Coordinates: 38°56′37″N 34°33′35″E / 38.94361°N 34.55972°E / 38.94361; 34.55972
CountryTurkey
ProvinceNevşehir
DistrictHacıbektaş
Government
 • MayorAli Kaim (TİP)
Elevation
1,275 m (4,183 ft)
Population
 (2022)[1]
5,325
Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)
Area code0384
ClimateCsb
Websitewww.hacibektas.bel.tr

History

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W. M. Ramsay identified the town as one of the possible locations of Doara, an ancient town and bishopric. Modern scholars place it elsewhere.[3] From 1867 until 1922, Hacıbektaş was part of Angora vilayet.

For centuries, Hacıbektaş has served as the international headquarters of the Bektashi Order until Atatürk outlawed all dervish orders in 1925. In 1930, the Bektashi Order officially set up its new headquarters in Tirana, Albania.[4]

Notable residents

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Haji Bektash Veli, the founder of the Bektashi order, lived in the area in the 14th century and is commemorated by the town's current name and in an annual festival. His tomb known as the Hajibektash complex is located near the center of town in his former monastery, now a museum, and is a site of pilgrimage for Alevi and Bektashi from throughout Turkey and the world.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  2. ^ İlçe Belediyesi, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  3. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  4. ^ Elsie, Robert (2019). The Albanian Bektashi: history and culture of a Dervish order in the Balkans. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-78831-569-2. OCLC 1108619669.
  5. ^ "Alevi figure Hacı Bektaş Veli commemorated in Nevşehir festival". Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20.
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